Met confirms arrangements for public misconduct hearings

Members of the press and public will be able to attend gross misconduct hearings against police officers from next month.

Earlier this year Home Secretary Theresa May ordered that the hearings must be held in public “to ensure that the system is accountable, transparent and easy for the public to understand.”

Speaking in March, Mrs May said: “The public need to have confidence that the complaints system is fair and effective and that the disciplinary system effectively holds corrupt officers, or those who are guilty of misconduct, to account for their actions.”

Hearings will be advertised on the Met’s website through which members of the public and press can apply to attend. The first sessions are expected to be held in June.

Journalists in possession of a recognised press card will be able to Tweet the proceedings but Tweeting by members of the public, and the filming or recording of the sessions by anyone present, will be forbidden.